The course was named for Springfield's favorite sons and golfing legends. It was originally designed by Perry Maxwell, one of the Golden Age golf course architects responsible for Southern Hills and Prairie Dunes, to name a few.

The golf course is a parkland layout with trees lining the slightly rolling fairways and a modest number of sand bunkers, mostly defending the small to mid-sized round or kidney-shaped greens level with the fairways. From the back tees, it plays to only 6,162 yards, par 70. 68.4/113, course/slope ratings with two shorter tees.